A panel discussion about the pork industry and the June closing of Tyson Fresh Meats Inc. will be held at 5:30 p.m., on May 22, at La Poste, 1219 Warford St. in Perry.

The panel discussion, which is open to the public, is being sponsored by PerryNext, a collaboration among city, county and state officials, local businesses and community leaders.

The panel will be moderated by Tom Burkgren, a Perry leader and expert in agricultural economics and community development. Panel members include Dirk Cavanaugh, Perry’s mayor; Sven Peterson, Perry city administrator; Eric Kress, Central Iowa Workforce Development Board; Chad Pierce, business engagement consultant with Iowa Workforce Development; Jocelyn Monzon, care coordinator at the Dallas County Hospital; and Rick Peterson, chief operating officer and deputy director at the Iowa Finance Authority and Iowa Economic Development Authority.

Topics that will be discussed by panelists include:

• Pork industry update, including current trends, challenges and opportunities within the pork industry.
• PerryNext’s response, including insights into the creation of PerryNext and its response to the Tyson closure announcement.
• Workforce issues, including strategies and initiatives that address workforce challenges and opportunities for retention.
• Community resources, including those aimed at supporting workers affected by the plant closure.
• Business attraction and marketing efforts, including initiatives to attract investment, promote economic growth and market the community’s available sites for industry.

“The leaders in this community are optimistic that there is opportunity for growth and our goal is to show anyone following our story that we are open for business,” Kavanaugh said in a prepared statement. “This event serves as a platform for meaningful dialogue and collective action towards creating a plan for repair and recovery, building a stronger, more resilient community.”

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